Ref: NGSSoftware Advisories NISR19042004a and NISR19042004b
In response to NGSSoftware Advisories NISR19042004a and NISR19042004b,
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Symantec Security Advisory
SYM04-005
19 March, 2004
Symantec Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiSpam Remote Access
Vulnerability
Revision History
None
Risk Impact
High
Overview
NGSsoftware notified Symantec of a security vulnerability NGSsoftware had
found in the Symantec Norton Internet Security and Symantec Norton
AntiSpam 2004. If properly exploited this vulnerability could allow remote
execution of arbitrary code on a targeted system resulting in possible
system compromise.
Affected Components
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2004 and Professional for Windows
Symantec Norton AntiSpam 2004
Details
Symantec was alerted to a remote access vulnerability that NGSsoftware
discovered while evaluating Symantec Norton Internet Security 2004 and
Symantec Norton AntiSpam 2004. Symantec Norton Internet Security and
Symantec Norton AntiSpam 2004 contain ActiveX components that do not do
proper bounds checking of external input. A malicious individual could
potentially exploit these weaknesses to launch a local application on the
target system and possibly run arbitrary code of their choice on the local
system with elevated privileges.
To do this successfully, the attacker would need to either entice the
targeted user to visit a location where the malicious code could be
launched or to download and launch the malicious code on their system.
Successful execution of these security issues could result in compromise
of the targeted system.
Symantec Response
Symantec has verified the issues reported by NGSsoftware and released
patches for both Symantec Norton Internet Security and Symantec Norton
AntiSpam 2004 via Symantec LiveUpdate. Customers should run Symantec
LiveUpdate manually to ensure all installed Symantec products are fully
updated.
· Open any installed Symantec product
· Click on LiveUpdate in the toolbar
· Run LiveUpdate until all available Symantec product updates are
downloaded and installed
Symantec is unaware of any active exploits for or customer impact from
these issues. Symantec will continue to evaluate the issues.
As a part of normal best practices, Symantec recommends using a
multi-layered approach to security. Users, at a minimum, should run both
personal firewall and antivirus applications with current updates to
provide multiple points of detection and protection to both inbound and
outbound threats.
Users should keep vendor-supplied patches for all application software and
operating systems up-to-date.
Users should further be wary of mysterious attachments and executables
delivered via email and be wary of visiting unknown/untrusted websites.
Do not open attachments or executables from unknown sources. Always err on
the side of caution.
Even if the sender is known, be wary of attachments if the sender does not
fully explain the attachment content in the body of the email. You do not
know the source of the attachment.
If in doubt, contact the sender before opening the attachment. If still in
doubt, delete the attachment without opening it.
CVE
Symantec has requested a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)
candidate name for these issues. We will revise this Advisory upon
receipt.
This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org),
which standardizes names for security problems.
Credit:
Symantec appreciates the cooperation of Mark Litchfield and the
NGSsoftware research team in identifying this issue.
Symantec Product Security Contact:
Symantec takes the security and proper functionality of its products very
seriously. As founding members in the Organization for Internet Safety,
Symantec follows the process of responsible disclosure. Please contact
symsecurity@xxxxxxxxxxxx if you feel you have discovered a potential or
actual security issue with a Symantec product.
Symantec strongly recommends using encrypted email for reporting
vulnerability information to symsecurity@xxxxxxxxxxxxx The SymSecurity
PGP key may be obtained from the Symantec Security Response site.
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Copyright (c) 2004 by Symantec Corp.
Permission to redistribute this alert electronically is granted as long as
it is not edited in any way unless authorized by Symantec Security
Response. Reprinting the whole or parts of this alert in any medium other
than electronically requires permission from symsecurity@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Disclaimer
The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate at the time of
publishing based on currently available information. Use of the
information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There
are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the author nor
the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect, or
consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on, this
information.
Symantec, Symantec products, and SymSecurity are registered trademarks of
Symantec Corp. and/or affiliated companies in the United States and other
countries. All other registered and unregistered trademarks represented in
this document are the sole property of their respective companies/owners.